Hajime and Tokio by Angrybee (R)
Title: Hajime and Tokio
Author: Angrybee
Fandom: Rurouni Kenshin
Pairing: Saitou/Tokio
Categories: Romance, Drama
Length: epic
Warnings: scene changes inconsistently indicated
Author on LJ: angrybee
Author Website: Angrybee's Anime Arboretum
Author's Summary: The story of the life, and love, which grew between an unlikely couple. Follows Saitou and Tokio from the Genji era through and past the Rurouni Kenshin tale.
Review:
There’s something extra delightful about loving a story that's usually completely out of the norm of what one likes to read. I can’t quite remember how I came across this story or why I gave it a chance when normally I wouldn’t, but it utterly sucked me in and unexpectedly kept me up all night.
The story focuses on one of the series’ side characters (Saitou Hajime, whom I’ve never actually cared for) and his wife Tokio (who is essentially an OC for despite mentions, she never actually appears in the series). In fact, a great majority of the series focuses on various OCs and minor characters. Angrybee’s ability to create fascinating, likeable characters is truly mind-blowing. Saitou is still every bit the bad-tempered… ahem, jerk of the series and yet, I found myself caring about him. Tokio is a particular marvel - no Mary Sue here, she is fully realized and very complex. Though prone to depression and morbid thoughts, her emotional struggles never degenerate to melodrama and she is nevertheless strong in her own way - and grows stronger with the story.
Saitou and Tokio’s relationship is just as unique and complex as the characters. Considering how they met (Saitou accidentally running her through) and wed (as an agreement to help Saitou’s spying), it is little wonder that they develop what appears to be an inexplicable relationship. However, it feels all the more realistic for it - they come to love each other deeply, and what they build together works for them, romantic clichés be damned.
A truly epic, decade-spanning love story.
Hajime and Tokio
Author: Angrybee
Fandom: Rurouni Kenshin
Pairing: Saitou/Tokio
Categories: Romance, Drama
Length: epic
Warnings: scene changes inconsistently indicated
Author on LJ: angrybee
Author Website: Angrybee's Anime Arboretum
Author's Summary: The story of the life, and love, which grew between an unlikely couple. Follows Saitou and Tokio from the Genji era through and past the Rurouni Kenshin tale.
Review:
There’s something extra delightful about loving a story that's usually completely out of the norm of what one likes to read. I can’t quite remember how I came across this story or why I gave it a chance when normally I wouldn’t, but it utterly sucked me in and unexpectedly kept me up all night.
The story focuses on one of the series’ side characters (Saitou Hajime, whom I’ve never actually cared for) and his wife Tokio (who is essentially an OC for despite mentions, she never actually appears in the series). In fact, a great majority of the series focuses on various OCs and minor characters. Angrybee’s ability to create fascinating, likeable characters is truly mind-blowing. Saitou is still every bit the bad-tempered… ahem, jerk of the series and yet, I found myself caring about him. Tokio is a particular marvel - no Mary Sue here, she is fully realized and very complex. Though prone to depression and morbid thoughts, her emotional struggles never degenerate to melodrama and she is nevertheless strong in her own way - and grows stronger with the story.
Saitou and Tokio’s relationship is just as unique and complex as the characters. Considering how they met (Saitou accidentally running her through) and wed (as an agreement to help Saitou’s spying), it is little wonder that they develop what appears to be an inexplicable relationship. However, it feels all the more realistic for it - they come to love each other deeply, and what they build together works for them, romantic clichés be damned.
A truly epic, decade-spanning love story.
Hajime and Tokio